October, 2017

ACADEMY FOR LIFELONG LEARNING

WE’RE SAVING YOU A SEAT!

Save the Date 2

Executive Director Notes 2

Study Groups 3

Celebrating Silver Update 4

Academy Extra - MVP 9

Wine & Jazz - Caffe Lena 12

Celebrating Silver Banquet 14

Inside this issue:

Points of Interest 1. Study Groups starting in

October - Register now!

2. Check out the new Caffe Lena with A.L.L. Oct 24 - Wine & Jazz!

3. Raffles, raffles, raffles!

Shout Out!

113 West,

A.L.L.’s new home!

Here we come!

I read with great pleasure that A.L.L.

has reached its 25th

Anniversary. What

began as an idea in the mind of Mari-

anne Finnegan has grown into an or-

ganization of many learners. I could not

have imagined that such a small grant

from the ESC Foundation would achieve

such success – engaging the intellectual

and social energies of so many wonderful

participants and contributors.

Congratulations to all who have made

this treasure so successful over so many

years! And I share your joy in anticipat-

ing the next 25!

Most Cordially, Jim

25 Years

A.L.L. Celebrates 25 Years!

In a letter from SUNY Empire State College President (from 1971 - 1998) James H. Hall, PhD, to The Academy Executive Director Jeff Shinaman, Dr. Hall remembers the Academy’s earliest days and Founder Marianne Fin-negan.

P A G E 2 A . L . L . T H E N E W S

Upcoming Events Save These Dates!

Oct 9 - Columbus Day - A.L.L. Office Closed

Oct 13 - Senior Expo at Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Li-

brary, 10 AM - 1 PM - A.L.L. will staff a booth)

Oct 14 - 50+ Living Expo, Noon - 5 PM, Saratoga Springs

City Center - A.L.L. will staff a booth)

Oct 24 - A.L.L. Wine & Jazz Fundraiser at Caffe Lena, 4 - 6

PM - see page 12 for flyer

Nov 3 - Academy Extra - MVP 10 Quick Tips to a Healthier

You! (See page 9 for flyer)

Nov 5 - Chronicle Book Fair 11 AM - 3 PM @ the Queens-

bury Hotel (A.L.L. will staff a booth)

Nov 9 - End of Semester Social @ Prestwick Chase (details

to be announced)

Nov 22 & 23 - Thanksgiving Holiday - A.L.L. Of-

fice Closed

Dec 1 - Celebrating Sliver Banquet, Gideon Put-

nam Hotel 12 - 4 PM see page 4, 9 & 10)

Dec 9 - Barnes & Noble Bookfair for A.L.L., Wilton Square,

Route 50, 9 AM - 5 PM

Dec 21, 25 & 26 A.L.L. Office Closed for the Christmas Holi-

day

NOTES FROM THE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

We’re Kicked-Off!

Over 130 Academy members attended this year’s fall “Celebrating Silver” kick-off brunch last month at the Knights of Columbus. Thirty new members in attendance introduced themselves and shared with the audience how they’d heard about A.L.L. Welcome all! We heard from study group leaders who en-thusiastically shared information about their classes. Many thanks to our volunteers, espe-cially the Event Planning Committee and the Membership Committee for planning, wel-coming new members, and providing prizes. We are also grateful for Office Manager Vera Kasson and all our study group leaders for making what we do possible.

Classes are up and running. We have 300 members in fall study groups. We’ve wel-comed 38 new members. As always, we wel-come your input in providing the best pro-grams possible.

Please remember to be patient as we move the Academy office to 113 West Avenue. These changes will present some challenges and some opportunities too.

The “Giving Letter” will be in the mail to you this month giving you the opportunity to do-nate to the Academy. The finance committee has budgeted $11,000 in general operating

revenue from these donations this fiscal year.

Thank you for your generosity.

At right, & below at the Kick-Off as photo-graphed by Bernie Fabry

P A G E 3

FALL STUDY GROUP

CHANGES Economics for Beginners will meet at 113 West in

room 142 for all classes .

Enjoying Poetry: Writing & Reading will now be

held in room 146 at 113 West Ave. for all classes.

Science, Engineering & Tech Speaker Series is

canceled 10/3 and moved to rm 143 on 10/31.

The Exotic East: A Pictorial Tour of India, China &

Japan will now meet at 113 West in room 142,

for all classes except Oct 11 when it will meet in

room 146.

The Writers Circle study group on Wednesdays at

9 AM will meet at Prestwick Chase.

U.S. Constitution: Myths & Misconceptions will

meet in room 143 at 113 West on Oct 5. All other

classes meet in room 142.

OPEN CLASS REGISTRATION - FALL 2017

Good seats are still available for two study groups starting in October. Please use the A.L.L. Fall Open Classes Registration form on page 8. Study groups are open to current and new members. Send your registration form today!

Law & Morality: When Laws Succeed and When They Fail - Mondays at 9:30 AM starting October 16 for 4 weeks in room142 at 113 West. This is a $25 class.

Supreme Court 2016 - 2017 Cases - Thursdays at 2 PM start-ing October 12 for 4 weeks in room 142 of 113 West. This is a $25 class.

Photo at right of Study Group Leader Tom Davis taken by A.L.L. Photographer Bernie Fabry

FALL STUDY GROUP

Cancelations

Doodles, Drawings & Designs scheduled for

Thursdays at 10 AM with Study Group Leader

Lou Tirelli is cancelled for this semester.

The Evolution of Classical Music scheduled

for Thursday’s with Study Group Leader Mar-

jorie Gibbs at 10AM has been cancelled for

this semester.

Walking with Saratoga’s Health & Wellness

Community scheduled for Wednesdays at

12:30 PM is cancelled for this semester.

Smithsonian Ingenuity Awards: Inspiration to

Think Out of the Box scheduled for Wednes-

days at 9:30 AM is cancelled for this semester

P A G E 4 A . L . L . T H E N E W S

ACADEMY FOR

LIFELONG LEARNING

CELEBRATING SILVER!

Celebrate with Empire State College our 25 years of collaborative efforts to create an outstandingly successful lifelong learning center in Saratoga Springs!

SAVE THE DATE!

(submitted by Celebrating Silver Chair Scheryl LoMonico)

Our Celebrating Silver Banquet is Friday, December 1, 2017 (see the back page for flyer) at the Gideon Putnam Hotel, Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs! Special Raffle item is One Night Free at the Saratoga Casino Hotel and $200 gift certificate for Morton’s The Steakhouse. The Committee will sell “special” raffle tickets for this through December 1, when the winner will be drawn. Members of the Celebrating Silver Committee will be the ticket agents in classrooms and at events. Each raffle ticket for this is $5. Anyone can purchase tickets for this item. Sales are not limited to A.L.L. members, and one does not have to be present to win. Cash and checks accepted.

Memories . . . Tales to Share . . . Unforgettable Moments!

(submitted by Pat Rohstedt)

Join us in celebrating 25 years of A.L.L. by sharing your memories of past study classes, special events or, even committees. Got a memory in mind to share? Thought of an anecdote from a special class? Remember what happened when…? With all these memories we could fill a book! For now, we’ll sprinkle them throughout the 25th year like silver stars.

Did something come to mind? Send your anecdote to prohstedt@aol.com, or leave it at the ALL office addressed to me, Pat Rohstedt, with Vera.

Please share your special A.L.L. memory, funny, sweet, or surprising, as we look back on 25 years of A.L.L .(formerly A.L.R., remember?) growth. The Celebrating Silver committee thanks you.

We welcome your input and ideas for the 25th Anniversary. Send your ideas or comments to me at scheryl@roadrunner.com. I invite you to join the Celebrating Silver Committee and work with a wonderful team! Please join us for our next meeting at 3 PM, Monday Oct 2 in room 146 at 113 West. Watch A.L.L. the News and your e-mail for updates !

25 YEARS OF MEMORIES

Submitted by Executive Council Chair Louise Young and Pat Rohstedt

This memory from A.L.L. member Sue Culligan continues our monthly column to help celebrate the Academy's 25th year. If you have a memory that makes you smile, please see above for how to submit it for publication. A few will be includ-ed in the 25th Anniversary Program keepsake at our Dec. 1 banquet at the Gideon Putnam.

Almost ten years ago, at the end of our last class

of “Walking Through Our Heritage,” Carol came

to the table where Judy, Peggy, and I were sitting.

Carol, a “transplant” from Queens, asked if we

would like to “be [her]friend.” We’ve been the

“Fearless Foursome” ever since, through fun times

and sad, traveling, gnoshing, galvanizing true

friendships. Thank you ALL! ~ Sue Culligan

SENIOR ISSUES forum

Submitted by Executive Council Chair Louise Young

We A.L.L. members are a lively,

spry lot, but we know we may

be facing serious needs in our

futures (very distant futures, we

hope). To learn about solutions

to these future concerns, A.L.L.

Executive Director Jeff Shina-

man (who is a member of the

Mayor’s Senior Advisory Com-

mittee) and I attended a forum

on senior issues Monday, Sep-

tember 18 at the Empire State

College on 2 Union Avenue.

Federal, State and Local legisla-

tors were there to respond to

questions from the moderator,

Kathleen Fyfe, from the Sarato-

ga Chamber of Commerce as

well as questions from the SRO

audience.

Three topics of special interest to

seniors were discussed in the

two hour session: transporta-

tion, housing and health. A

comprehensive directory de-

scribing Saratoga County trans-

portation services available in

each town as well as prices and

contact information can be ob-

tained from the Saratoga Coun-

ty Office for the Aging at 518-

884-4100. I was heartened by

the number of options available

to those of us who may no long-

er drive. I recommend this book-

let to all A.L.L. members.

Housing was an important topic

thoroughly discussed by the

panel. The best advice from the

panel was to begin to investi-

gate choices early before a crisis

happens. Aging in Place in one’s

own home (with many available

services) or choosing a group

facility from independent living

to a nursing home with some

facilities providing all three op-

tions on a continuum were dis-

cussed. For those seniors aging

in place, there is funding availa-

ble up to $15,000 to renovate a

home with a ramp, bath grab

bars, or any other modifications

to aid seniors who wish to re-

main in their homes. Communi-

ty Connections is a service to

help with meals and rides. Both

of these services can be ac-

cessed by calling the Office for

the Aging 518-884-4100.

A comprehensive booklet

“Housing Options for Senior

Adults in the Capital Region”

can be obtained from the Alba-

ny Guardian Society, Albany,

NY. It is a comprehensive 2017

edition of housing options in

Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga

and Schenectady Counties de-

scribing in detail a variety of fa-

cilities with various levels of care

and costs. I

believe all of

us A.L.L.

members can

benefit from

owning that

document. It

is available

online to be

downloaded

at the Albany

G u a r d i a n

website.

The final top-

ic was Health.

The focus

was on all

aspects of health for seniors.

A.L.L. and Jeff received a shout

out from the moderator plug-

ging our Academy as a place for

maintaining our cognitive

health as we age. Saratoga

County is blessed with many

health services from hospitals to

EMT trained fireman. In addition

to the NY State EPIC program for

seniors, an interesting piece of

state legislation (Senate Bill

2885) has been put forward by

State Senator Jim Tedisco. It pro-

poses Elderly Dental Insurance

Coverage (EDICT) similar to the

EPIC program. Again, we were

reminded to look into services

we may need long before a cri-

sis occurs.

Information on all three topics:

transportation, housing and

health can be obtained from the

Saratoga County Office for the

Aging 518-884-4100.

Image below taken at the event

by Jeff Shinaman

111 West Ave. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-6069 Phone : 518-587-2100, x 2415 E-mail: vera.kasson@esc.edu Academy.Lifelonglearning@esc.edu www.esc.edu/ALL

A.L.L.

We’re

Saving

You a

Seat!

A.L .L . ’s Future

& Your

Legacy The Academy’s future depends on fi-nancial sustainability. Please consider making a difference that will serve oth-ers through your legacy by making a bequest to the Academy for Lifelong

Learning at Saratoga Springs in your will. This is a meaningful way to sup-port the life-changing work at the Academy. Please also consider sug-gesting to those wishing to offer re-membrances to direct them to the

Academy.

SHOPPING

AT THE ACADEMY!

Inventory for Academy merchandise is being kept off site during our antic-

ipated move to 113 West. Don’t let that stop you, though,

from purchasing all your Academy favorites! Please contact:

Alice Martin at rmartin@nycap.rr.com for tote bags. Note

cards? A box of 10 all-occasion A.L.L. cards and envelopes is

the perfect paper on which to write all your hand-written

notes! Contact Judy Tirelli at ltirell1@nycap.rr.com for cards.

And, don’t forget Apple Trees, the A.L.L. Journal is just $7 for the newest

issue! Contact Sue Valaitis at vavisme@hotmail.com for current and past

issues. Contact Vera at the A.L.L. office for gift certificates. The Academy

Office can accept checks or cash (exact change is appreciated).

Rai$ing Dough

ANNUAL

BACK-TO-SCHOOL

DINE-OUT

WINE & JAZZ AT

CAFFE LENA

Join A.L.L. members and friends at Caffe Lena Tue, Oct 24 when a variety of wines will be served from 2-4 pm, along with light refresh-ments with jazz pianist John Nazarenko play-ing softly in the background.

You may not know that Caffè Lena is widely recognized as the oldest continuously operat-ing folk music venue in the United States. The Library of Congress calls Caffè Lena “An Amer-ican Treasure,” and The GRAMMY Foundation has honored the venue for its important con-tributions to the development of American music.

Some of America’s best-loved songwriters, ranging from Bob Dylan in 1961 to Sawyer Fredericks in 2014, with an amazing “who’s who” list in between, have launched their ca-reers from Caffe Lena.

A recent $2 million renovation of the venue guarantees a home for Lena’s celebrated pro-gramming for decades to come. The second floor performance space is accessible by eleva-tor, and is a wonderful, intimate atmosphere in which to listen and converse, all the while treating your palate to a satisfying taste of wine.

The event is open to A.L.L. members and the public. Cost is $20 per person and includes two glasses of wine and finger foods. If you are an old friend of Caffe Lena from the early days, or if this will be your first experience, in-vite your friends and make your reservations soon (seating is limited). See flyer on page 12.

Thank you to those who came to the West Side Sports Bar & Grill (112 Congress St, Saratoga Springs) for the Academy’s Rai$ing Dough fund-raiser on September 18. The Academy’s Resource Development Committee put together some great silent auction items and, with the raffle for a West Side Gift Certificate and the restaurant’s 20% donation, raised over $1000. Although we’ll have another event there in the spring, don’t wait ‘till then to go! Their delicious menu and cas-ual atmosphere can be enjoyed any day of the week!

ACADEMY FINANCES - EASY AS PIE!

The pie charts below and on the next page illustrate Academy finances for the past fiscal year.

In the revenue chart:

RDC refers to the Academy’s Resource Development Committee

Annual Gen Fund Give refers to members’ generous donations to the Academy’s general operating revenue submitted on class registration forms and in semi-annual giving letters.

Traditional Fundraising is revenue generated from ongoing Academy activities and events like the Barnes & Noble Bookfair, sale of notecards, and the ballet/lunch at SPAC.

Endowment Fund Interest is from the Academy’s endowment fund overseen by the college.

In the expense chart:

Training/Volunteers Rec refers to volunteer training (Executive Council Workshops) and the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon in April.

The Academy plans for a balanced budget each year where revenues equal expenses. Recent A.L.L. budgets have resulted in slight surpluses with no money withdrawn from the Academy’s reserve fund to balance the budget. The finance committee hopes this helps in understanding part of the budget process. Members of the committee are committed to visiting the other Academy committees during the year to talk about the financial aspects of A.L.L. so be looking for them … they are coming! For more information on Academy finances, please contact Executive Council Finan-cial Officer, Mary Ann Johnson at maryannjohnson06@gmail.com.

ACADEMY FINANCES - EASY AS PIE! (CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE)

LET’S CELEBRATE 25 YEARS TOGETHER!

Submitted by Sheryl Egger

Every semester we tell you, "We’re saving you a seat!" Now, we are saving a seat for you at the CELEBRATING SILVER BANQUET December 1 at the Gideon Putnam Hotel in the Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs. We usually celebrate the end of the semes-ter but this year we are celebrating our successes of 25 years. We offer you excellent food, music by Bobby Dick and Susie, raffles for wonderful prizes (please see below!), the opportunity to recognize the many who are responsible for our success and fun.

We will be enjoying the company of our colleagues. We don' t do it enough. And you can dance so don't forget to bring your dance partner! From Noon to 4 we can chat, eat, dance, and remember the good times we have had in our organization. Attending will be some of our founders, guests from SUNY Empire State College, representatives from our sponsors, and a Saratoga Hospital representative to accept the hundreds of hats you have knitted this year.

Please complete and mail the reservation form on the back page of this newsletter at your earliest convenience so you and your guest may take the seats we are saving for you.